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James D. Thurman
Official portrait, 2011
Born 19 September 1953(1953-09-19) (age 72)
Place of birth Gainesville, Texas, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1975–2013
Rank General
Commands held United Nations Command
ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command
United States Forces Korea
United States Army Forces Command
V Corps
4th Infantry Division
Fort Irwin National Training Center
2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized)
Battles/wars Gulf War
Iraq War
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal (5)
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit (4)
Bronze Star Medal (2)

James David Thurman (born 19 September 1953) is a retired United States Army general who served as the Commander of United Nations Command, R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea from 14 July 2011 until 2 October 2013.[1] He previously served as the 18th Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command from 3 June 2010 to 8 July 2011 and as Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7.[2] He was the former commanding general of United States V Corps in Heidelberg, Germany from 19 January 2007 to 8 August 2007.

Early life and education[]

Thurman's family was from Marietta, Oklahoma, and he was born in nearby Gainesville, Texas, on September 19, 1953.[3] He was raised in Marietta and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from East Central University. Thurman received a Regular Army Commission from the United States Army as a second lieutenant in 1975. His civilian education also includes a Master of Arts degree in management from Webster University.

Career[]

Thurman (right) in August 2006, talking to General , Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Thurman (right) in August 2006, talking to General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Thurman began his career in the 4th Infantry Division, serving as Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and Motor Officer for 6th Battalion, 32d Armor. He has commanded at all levels from company to division. After attending the Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course, he commanded the Aero-Scout Platoon and later became the Operations Officer, A Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

From 1981 to 1982, Thurman attended the Armor Officer Advanced Course, United States Army Armor School, Fort Knox, Kentucky. Upon completion, he attended the AH-64 Aviator Qualification Course, United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and then as Executive Officer, 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

During 1989 to 1991, Thurman served as Executive Officer of the 1st Battalion, 32d Armor, 1st Cavalry Division and Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Saudi Arabia.

Thurman's previous assignments also include Commander of 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment; 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany; Commander, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, Georgia; Commander, Operations Group, United States Army National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California; Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Plans and Policy, Allied Forces Southern Europe, Regional Command South, Italy; Commanding General, Fort Irwin National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California; Director of Training, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3, United States Army; and Chief, Operations, Coalition Forces Land Component Command, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Camp Doha, Kuwait.

Thurman left Kuwait to become the director, Army Aviation Task Force, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3, United States Army in Washington, D.C., where he remained until his arrival at Fort Hood as the 4th Infantry commanding general.

On 2 October 2006, Thurman was nominated for promotion by President George W. Bush for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general. His receipt of promotion and his third star was 19 January 2007. On 19 December 2006, Thurman took over assignment in Heidelberg, Germany as the commanding general of V Corps along with the United States Army Europe and Seventh Army. His retirement ceremony was held at Fort Hood, Texas, on 22 November 2013.

Awards and decorations[]

Awards and decorations
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Service Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster
Silver oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Army Commendation Medal
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Valorous Unit Award
Superior Unit Award
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star
Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars
Bronze star
Kosovo Campaign Medal with one bronze service star
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Award numeral 5 Army Overseas Service Ribbon (with bronze award numeral 5)
Bronze star
NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with one service star
Tong-il Security Medal Ribbon Order of National Security Merit, Tong-il Medal (Republic of Korea)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Badges
Combat Action Badge  Combat Action Badge
Army Senior Aviator  Senior Aviator Badge
United States Air Force Parachutist Badge  Basic Parachutist Badge
United States Army Staff Identification Badge  Army Staff Identification Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff seal  Joint Staff Identification Badge
4th Infantry Division CSIB2  4th Infantry Division CSIB
4CavalryRegtDUI  4th Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
ArmyOSB  4 Overseas Service Bars

References[]

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.

External links[]

Military offices
Preceded by
Walter L. Sharp
Commander of United Nations Command
Commander of United States Forces Korea
Commander of ROK/US Combined Forces Command

2011–2013
Succeeded by
Curtis M. Scaparrotti
All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at James D. Thurman and the edit history here.